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This article was published 08/07/2015 (3743 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If the Winnipeg Jets are true to their claim that the annual development camp is mostly an educational, get-to-know you exercise for both players and the organization, then there will be no black marks for those who may have had an underwhelming week.

The team’s 2014 first-round pick Nikolaj Ehlers, for example, singled himself out after Tuesday’s scrimmage as not performing up to his own standards.

“I didn’t feel great,” said Ehlers, who claimed to have put on more than 10 pounds of weight prior to the five-day camp. “I didn’t think that I showed what I can do but it’s tough when there are 39 other guys out there that are trying to do exactly the same.”

Ehlers did help create a goal or two in Tuesday’s scrimmage at the MTS Iceplex but was already turning his attention to the weeks ahead.

“I’ve got about two months now to really focus on myself and get better and be able to improve and get my chance to play next year,” he said.

The left-winger, just 19, said his goal is unaltered — to make the Jets this fall after two spectacular years in the QMJHL.

Even though the camp isn’t designed to be a competitive experience, it didn’t stop a number of prospects from putting a good foot forward during the five days.

It’s easy to see why the Jets like defenceman Tucker Poolman of University of North Dakota, a 2013 pick, so much.

And both youngsters acquired in the February trade with Buffalo — forwards Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux go in that category as well.

Armia, Buffalo’s first-rounder in 2011, stood out in the second half of Tuesday’s scrimmage.

“Obviously he’s highly, highly skilled so it was awesome to see him doing well today,” Lemieux said of Armia.

Defenceman Josh Morrissey, the team’s 2013 first-rounder, was another who looked sharp in the last week.

And there were more subtle things like the physical strength already shown by 2015 third-round pick Erik Foley and the skating improvement in a year by 2014 seventh-round pick and 220-pound left-winger Matt Ustaski.

“I’ve learned a lot about players and I think they’ve learned a lot about us,” said Jets director of player development Jimmy Roy. “There were some good players out there that I enjoyed watching. I thought Tucker Poolman was really good, (2014 pick) C.J. Franklin and (2015 first-rounder) Kyle Connor were good to see.”

Roy emphasized Tuesday that the camp has many purposes, especially educational.

“I think players, once they realize and look at their peers and see who they’re playing against… then they think, ‘Holy cow, I’ve got to pick up my work ethic if I want to get to where I’m going,’” he said.

“Part of the realization of them coming to this camp is where they need to be in a year or two years.

“A lot of the things we do this week are about the difference from what the junior and college hockey to what the pro game is like on the ice.

“To be able to see that in a game, see what players bring to the table, I enjoyed that.”

One of the takeaways from Connor was the step that he and others face from junior hockey.

“Lots of speed and (it’s) physical,” said Connor, who heads to University of Michigan this fall. “Everything is a step ahead. Everything’s just a little bit faster.

“I think I’m going to work on getting stronger, bigger, faster, that comes with a little bit of time as well.”

In Tuesday’s scrimmage, recent fourth-round draft pick Michael Spacek, 18, decided the affair in overtime, scoring off a perfect feed from invitee Brandon Denham, giving Roy’s White team a 6-5 decision over Mike Keane’s Blue side.

Denham, Connor, seventh-round pick last week Matteo Gennaro and Morrissey also scored for the white team.

The blues had goals from Poolman, Axel Blomqvist, Franklin, Tyler Morley and a late-game goal from Ryan Olsen of the St. John’s IceCaps to send things to a sudden-death overtime of three-on-three.

Many of the 40 players present here for the last five days will be at the team’s rookie camp in September and the Jets will then take a team to the annual Young Stars tournament in Penticton, B.C., in early September to play against the prospects of the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Prime prospects

 

Connor Hellebuyck (G)

Signed, 2012 pick. Competes at camp but most likely AHL Moose starter

 

Eric Comrie (G)

Signed, 2013 pick. Graduates to AHL, pushes Hellebuyck hard

 

Josh Morrissey (D)

Signed, 2013 pick. Tough Jets depth chart to crack, likely has to start in AHL

 

Tucker Poolman (D)

Unsigned, 2013 pick. Returns to University of North Dakota for second year, a likely impact player.

 

 Nikolaj Ehlers (LW)

Signed, 2014 pick. Weight clouds issues but NHL spot is open if he earns it

Joel Armia (RW)

Signed, Buffalo’s 2011 first pick. Jets’ spot may be open if he can up intensity

 

Andrew Copp (C)

Signed, 2013 pick. Jets’ fourth-line job open today; readiness unknown

Nic Petan (C)

Signed, 2013 pick. Dynamic forward likely to find benefit with AHL start

 

Scott Kosmachuk (RW)

Signed, 2012 pick. Scorer who most likely returns to Moose for big season 

 

Brendan Lemieux (LW)

Signed, Buffalo 2014 pick. May be closer than you think but likely back to junior

 

Kyle Connor (LW)

Unsigned, 2015 first-rounder. Headed to University of Michigan for freshman year

 

Jack Roslovic (C)

Unsigned, 2015 first-rounder. Headed to University of Miami-Ohio for freshman year

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